We got a huge haul of DVDs from our local going-out-of-business Tower Records.  They were 30% off, even the Criterion Collection!  That's better than Amazon.  We bought 5 boxed sets of DVDs, and some even came with books.

The Asphalt Jungle (1950) is in a boxed set of five Film Noir movies.  It is such an awesome movie. Each character is unique and interesting. The story is good and has twists and turns.  It was one of the first caper movies shown from the point-of-view of the burglars. You can tell that the censors were sensitive about showing criminals as sympathetic (and cops as crooked) because there is a big speech at the end about how there are all these great cops out there keeping the riff raff at bay.

Marilyn Monroe is in the movie for about a total of 5 minutes.  It was one of her first movies and she was given a fairly small part.   I think the other characters talk about her more than you see her.  It's the first movie in which I've seen her act.  She did a pretty good job of playing a self-absorbed sex kitten.  Surprise!

[photo taken 11-11-2005 in New York City]